UNMC upgraded to the latest version of Blackboard Learn™, Service Pack 10, over Christmas break.  Nearly 640 institutions as well as over 600 educators and nearly 600 students contributed to the development of this latest release of Blackboard.  Many existing features have been improved and some exciting new features added to Blackboard. Here is an overview of tools that you can expect to be using soon:

• New Content Editor: The new Content Editor vastly improves the user experience for formatting text, pasting content from Microsoft Word, and adding content to all areas of Learn.  Simply bring your course materials to life.  Blackboard has also replaced the old math editor with a new mathML equation editor. http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_tools_using_content_editor.htm
• Assessment Item Analysis: Now you can easily refine your assessments by evaluating the quality of each question and that question’s ability to discriminate between students who understand the material and those who do not.  Ineffective questions can easily be identified and then quickly corrected with the Automatic Regrade feature. http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/Bb91_tools_item_analysis.htm
• My Blackboard (May not be fully implemented until Mid-January as Blackboard is adding external to campus features that need be made available]: This feature introduces a completely new, modern user experience in Blackboard Learn that consolidates critical information from all your Courses and Organizations as well as your school-wide academic network.  The new tools in My Blackboard – Profile, Posts, Updates, My Grades, and People – were developed to meet the needs of today’s active learner and enhance student engagement. For educators like you, My Blackboard allows you to easily monitor activity across your courses and organizations and rest-assured that your students are up-to-date and engaged in the online learning experience.  http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_myblackboard_profiles.htm
• New Global Navigation Menu: Always present in the top right corner, the new navigation menu is the entry point to My Blackboard and also provides one-click access to your Courses, Organizations, Settings, and Blackboard Help.  Additionally, the new menu will tell you how many items in My Blackboard are new or need your attention, so you never miss a thing. http://ondemand.blackboard.com/r91/movies/bb91_myblackboard_global_nav.htm
• Enterprise Surveys: Enterprise surveys enable you to measure satisfaction levels, community engagement, and other attitudes that impact institutional effectiveness. Surveys provide indirect measurements of student learning by relying on self-reported data and implied success. Enterprise surveys are delivered at the system level. They do not replace course surveys that are available to instructors in their courses. To learn more about course surveys, see About Creating Tests and Surveys. Enterprise surveys collect feedback from specific groups of people. Survey recipients are selected based on their role in the system, their enrollment in courses, or their membership in a department or business unit if your school licenses Community Engagement. You can also upload a list of recipient email addresses to target community members, business leaders, alumni, parents and other stakeholders. Question types available in enterprise surveys include Likert scale, matrix, multiple choice, either/or, and open entry questions. You can add instructions, section breaks, and page breaks, as well as brand your survey with a customized header and footer. You can send your survey out to multiple sets of recipients and analyze the results. Survey results are compared using response periods, which are sets of recipients and a time frame that you specify. You can also compare by enrollments, membership, demographics, or by a specific survey question. You cannot generate reports to compare results from different surveys, only different response periods for the same survey. To analyze results from different surveys, download the survey data and use a third party analysis tool. You need a special user account to access the enterprise survey tool. Your school creates this account for you. From the My Institution tab, select Enterprise Surveys on the Tools panel.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mw7z4ykEJyI
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6MKQsp5NJo&feature=youtu.be
• http://www.tubechop.com/watch/826797

To ensure you can familiarize yourself with these new features of Blackboard Learn and be ready to integrate them in your instruction, links are provided above.   Additional resources are listed below:

• Quick Hit Videos – a set of videos on YouTube that introduce all the new features
• On-Demand Learning Center – free access to video tutorials and getting started guides.
• Feature Showcase – review all of the new features.
• Help.Blackboard.com – assistance using the new Blackboard Learn platform, organized by role.
• Educator Cohort –series of online meetings to familiarize educators with new features

If you have questions or concerns about these upcoming changes, please let me know

We expect to complete the upgrade and regular system maintenance within a 2 hour window, during which the system will be unavailable. More details including update time frames and release notes will be available in the next 2 weeks. If you have any questions, please contact your account manager, Margaret, for more information.

CampusPack Update

This release includes connector updates, hosting improvements, and a number of bug fixes. What you can expect in this release:

• Enhanced and revised Moodle integration via LTI and web services
• Updated Blackboard connector with SP10 compatibility
• Enhanced subscriptions and following for content and groups (sponsored functionality)
• Move to Amazon S3 for attachments
• Improves download performance
• Improves availability, reliability, and scalability
• Many bug fixes
• All of the updates from the monthly patches

Smartboard Orientation Fix

Over the past 12 months there have been issues in some of the classrooms with Sympodium panels that require frequent reorientation.  This has exhibited itself in multiple ways including every time someone would log into the workstation or just the first time someone logs into the workstation during the semester.  After testing and working with Smart Technology support, the only solution found is to replace the sympodium themselves.  We are working with Smart to replace the desktop sympodium in the lecture halls in Sorrell starting with 3001 and 3002.  Working with the primary users of these and other affected classrooms, the wide-screen sympodium units will be replaced this spring and summer .  These newer units work better with both the latest Smart Technology software and Microsoft Windows.

During the past year, Blackboard Mobile access has been available to faculty, students and staff on smartphones, iPhones, iPad and other mobile devises.  UNMC used the free version which allowed these devices to access Blackboard via ethernet connectivity.  As of  9/10/2012, Blackboard is no longer offering the free option as their contract with Sprint expires.  Institutions have the option of paying a significant annual fee for the whole campus or allow individuals to purchase and use the tool.  UNMC is currently opting for the individual option, which will cost ($2.00 per year per user) or $6.00 per use for a perpetual license.  Individuals can purchase this through either the Apple store or Droid store accessible via their portable devices.  As of August 1, twelve hundred UNMC individuals had downloaded the current Mobile App.

Notable new features of Blackboard Mobile

• Audience Response:  The current Blackboard Mobile can be used to provide audience response during classes and educational sessions by using the survey and test capabilities of Blackboard.
• Testing:  Blackboard tests and surveys can be taken using Blackboard Mobile.  Basic question types including multiple choice and text response can be used.
• Notification: New push notification capabilities have been added to both the main Blackboard system which allow notification to mobile devices via text messaging as well as email. and the main Blackboard system which allow notification to mobile devices via text messaging as well as email.

Beginning with the Fall semester, student printing has been changed to allow each student 500 pages of printing per semester.  If a student needs to print more than 500 pages, a student can purchase additional pages at a rate of $.05 per page with a minimum purchase of an additional 100 pages for $5.00.  Larger numbers can be purchased if the student wants more pages.  This change is being made to more equitably provision student printing.  The relatively few students who need to print large numbers of pages during the year will pay for the extra pages that they need and the majority of students can still print a limited number of pages during the year.

To check how much printing you have done and how much you can still print, you can look at the print icon in the bottom right of the screen.  There is an icon there that displays your current print pages and amount available.  The picture below shows you what you will see for your campus id.  Click on the double up arrows and then select the print application.

SAS for Students

Students can now purchase SAS statistical software using a credit card ($25).  Once payment is received, information will be provided on how to access the software.  The link can be found on the main ITS page “Student Resources” and under “Software Downloads” on the quick links.

Direct Link:  http://app1.unmc.edu/forms/its/sas_license/request.cfm

New computers and Updates

During the 2012 summer, computers were upgraded in Sorrell 1010 (72 computers) and the Sorrell interaction rooms (22 computers).  The 2 printers in the Sorrell cluster were equipped with new, high-speed units.  Instructor workstations were also replaced in Sorrell 1010, 1012, 4053.  Of particular note for students is the replacement of computers in the Student Life Center computer cluster.  These units are new, low-cost thin client computers (minimal workstations that run software on an external server).  These computers provide for easier updating and addition of software and can provide even more power than traditional workstations do.  They also reduce the cost and energy consumption of the individual workstations.  ITS is interested in how these are working for students, if you have any comments please email leis@unmc.edu.

Other Notable General Updates and Upgrades of Educational Technology

• New Echo360 version installed providing enhanced recording capabilities and hd quality capabilities.  Includes the capability to bookmark points in lectures and the ability to live stream in rooms that have the new HD Recording units installed (UNMC is gradually deploying these units in classrooms during this academic year).

Current Version of Blackboard Special Highlights

The current version of Blackboard has some particularly useful features that we noted in the spring newsletter.  To reiterate items of particular note for faculty, the following provide significant enhancement.

• Multi-Course Management – Multi-Section Management & Crosslisting: Multi-Section Management enables instructors to manage their courses (across multiple sections) and communicate across multiple courses. Crosslisting makes it possible for administrators to deliver two or more courses as a single combined course.
• Testing
  • Negative Marking: It is now possible to apply negative point values for incorrect answers on Assessment questions.  For example, one could provide 1 point for a correct answer, a fraction off for non-correct items in multiple answer questions.
  • Regrading: It is now possible to regrade answers after an exam is completed.  For example one could correct questions where a wrong answers is marked as correct, etc.

UNMC Blackboard Fixes and Help 

• Disappearing Menus fixed in pre-fall semester update:  Over the past few months a problem with the left main menu in blackboard has appeared.  Several users reported that the menu disappeared or had been minimized so that it was not visible.  To resolve this issue, when one first goes into a course now, the menu will always be expanded and visible.
• Online Help Resources: A set of training materials in text and video formats are now available for faculty use.  You can access these at unmc.edu/its/bb_help_faq.htm or from the login page of my.unmc.edu.  Most of these materials are external to UNMC but we are working on a campus faq at faq.unmc.edu that will cover basic help for common questions about Blackboard or other campus supported educational software.

Blackboard Mobile (No longer free as of 9/10/2012)

During the past year, Blackboard Mobile access has been available to faculty, students and staff on smartphones, iPhones, iPad and other mobile devises.  UNMC used the free version which allowed these devices to access Blackboard via ethernet connectivity.  As of  9/10/2012, Blackboard is no longer offering the free option as their contract with Sprint expires.  Institutions have the option of paying a significant annual fee for the whole campus or allow individuals to purchase and use the tool.  UNMC is currently opting for the individual option, which will cost ($2.00 per year per user) or $6.00 per use for a perpetual license.  Individuals can purchase this through either the Apple store or Droid store accessible via their portable devices.  As of August 1, twelve hundred UNMC individuals had downloaded the current Mobile App.

Notable new features of Blackboard Mobile

• Audience Response:  The current Blackboard Mobile can be used to provide audience response during classes and educational sessions by using the survey and test capabilities of Blackboard.
• Testing:  Blackboard tests and surveys can be taken using Blackboard Mobile.  Basic question types including multiple choice and text response can be used.
• Notification: New push notification capabilities have been added to both the main Blackboard system which allow notification to mobile devices via text messaging as well as email. and the main Blackboard system which allow notification to mobile devices via text messaging as well as email.

The Echo360 classroom recording system is now installed in over 30 classrooms and conference rooms across campus.  The Echo server was upgraded to a new server using 64bit architecture to provide increased speed in the adding of and playing back of lectures and other video recordings.  Starting in July, replacement of existing Echo360 units with HD Echo360 units has begun.  These units provide enhanced, high resolution capabilities.

The latest version of Echo360 was installed on the server in July.  The new version of Echo360 software includes live streaming as well as viewing previously recorded sessions.  It also will allow more ways to record session without requiring the use of Echo360 appliances to record basic video in the room being recorded.  The ability to live stream from a class or event is expected to be available sometime this summer.

A new feature is also available that allows viewers to collaborate, comment and bookmark recordings. Collaboration between viewers of videos, allows the addition of personal notes and responses that can be added by students and faculty in a shared environment or only used for private notes and bookmarks. This feature is individually controlled by course or event and must be requested to be turned on for any courses or events.  Faculty who would like to test this with their students can request this option when requesting the scheduling of Echo for course lectures or events.

CampusPack

The Campus Pack Summer 2012 release is live with additional features, enhancements, and fixes.

• Moved the datacenters to Amazon Web Services (AWS) to achieve better performance and greater scalability
• New features like Activity Stream, Reporting Center, and Google Analytics.
• Over 40 bugs fixed, which are noted in the Release notes.

• Understanding Personal Learning Spaces – Wed, August 15 2012, 3:00 PM EDT
• Understanding Personal Learning Spaces – Thu, August 16, 2012 5:00 PM EDT
• Ideas for Group Spaces – Tue, August 21, 2012 10:30 AM EDT

Beginning with the Fall semester, student printing has been changed to allow each student 500 pages of printing per semester.  If a student needs to print more than 500 pages, a student can purchase additional pages at a rate of $.05 per page with a minimum purchase of an additional 100 pages for $5.00.  Larger numbers can be purchased if the student wants more pages.  This change is being made to more equitably provision student printing.  The relatively few students who need to print large numbers of pages during the year will pay for the extra pages that they need and the majority of students can still print a limited number of pages during the year.

New computers and Updates

During the 2012 summer, computers were upgraded in Sorrell 1010 (72 computers) and the Sorrell interaction rooms (22 computers).  The 2 printers in the Sorrell cluster were equipped with new, high-speed units.  Instructor workstations were also replaced in Sorrell 1010, 1012, 4053.  Of particular note for students is the replacement of computers in the Student Life Center computer cluster.  These units are new, low-cost thin client computers (minimal workstations that run software on an external server).  These computers provide for easier updating and addition of software and can provide even more power than traditional workstations do.  They also reduce the cost and energy consumption of the individual workstations.

Video Updates

• The Sorrell 3002 echo recorders have been upgraded to allow for the recording of video inputs and the computer at HD levels.
• Upgrade streaming video infrastructure with new dual recording streaming encoders and new distribution server with portal and universal import capabilities.
• New Helix server for delivery of content and uploading new content for distribution.

Respondus

The campus contract for Respondus 4.0 test creation and transfer software was not renewed for the 2012/2013 academic year.  Individuals can purchase individual copies of the software directly from Respondus.

Collaboration Server:

To meet the need for collaboration and file storage space, LEIS is testing an open-source resource AlFresco, a collaboration system. It contains file editing and repository, blog, wiki, discussions and other tools for groups and individual. Areas wanting to pilot can contact Dan Moser at dmoser@unmc.edu.

Contents

• Mobile
  • BBMobile
  • UNMC mobile site – m.unmc.edu
• Blackboard
  • Issues
  • BBMobile
  • Latest Version
• Campuspack – Blogs and Wikis
• Campus Classroom and Cluster Computers
  • Recent Updates
  • Summer 2012 Planned Updates and Changes
• Echo360 – classroom recording system
• 2012 Educational Technology Presentations, Training and Seminars

Mobile

BBMobile
The Blackboard Mobile free edition is available for use at UNMC.  It can be used using the following methods:

• WiFi connection for I-devices including ipad, iphone, etc.
• Using a device connected to the Sprint network provides full access to BBMobile for all smart phones and tablets.

The app is freely available for download and installation on the above devices.  We are interested in feedback about this app and its usefulness.  To make it available to non-sprint or IOS devices, a campus annual license would be needed so feedback on its usefulness would be very helpful.

The following services are available via the Blackboard Mobile app.  It is possible to access to courses and organizations, view documents and items in a mobile device specialized window, and link to and take exams via the browser.  The app provides  the quick loading of items and the course via the devices browser to provide a near desktop experience, this is most useful on the ipad.

To Use the Blackboard Mobile App please follow these steps:

• Download Blackboard Mobile app for particular device, usually available from the device app store.
• Install and open the app
• Blackboard Mobile begins with a selection screen
• Choose UNMC to access the UNMC Blackboard system
• Login with your id and password
• Your courses and organizations should be available for use.

Based on initial experience, the best uses of the app include general access to blackboard on small form factor devices and with the Ipad as a quick check of course material which is then used through a browser or downloaded for off-line use.

UNMC mobile site – m.unmc.edu
A campus mobile site is now available to the campus mobile users at m.unmc.edu.  This site provides news, events, maps, tools, contact us and easy access to www.unmc.edu.  On most portable devices it can bookmarked and have a quick link added to a phone or tablet using the normal device methods for creating shortcuts.

Blackboard

Mobile – see above

No Known Current Issues

Latest Version Testing and Plans
The latest software update for Blackboard (Version 9.1, Service Pack 8) has been released.  Normally these updates are bug fixes and minor changes, this one while not fundamentally changing the components of Blackboard, does introduce a new and redesigned interface.  Preliminary review has been positive but we would like to offer the opportunity for more of the campus to review this release prior to installing it as the campus blackboard active version at the beginning of the summer.

Currently the test server (oldbb.unmc.edu) is  housing the previous release of Blackboard with copies of UNMC courses and organizations as of May 2011.  To update this server to the latest release, all courses and organizations will be archived and stored to allow retrieval of these courses if needed by faculty or programs. If you want to archive any courses yourself or delete them from the planned archiving, please visit (http://oldbb.unmc.edu) by Tuesday, April 10, 2012 and archive or delete desired courses.

Anything still on the oldbb.unmc.edu, the morning of Wednesday, April 11, 2012, will be archived. After the archive, you can request course restores from the academic 2010/2011 year by contacting Joe Ziskovsky at jziskovs@unmc.edu or Melissa Diers at mdiers@unmc.edu. 

After Friday, April 13, 2012, we urge faculty to login to oldbb.unmc.edu and view/interact with the new version of Blackboard 9.1 Service Pack 8 to prepare for the Summer upgrade of the production server (my.unmc.edu).  Comments and suggestions can be sent to leis@unmc.edu.

Campuspack

Campuspack is an online resource for protected social media activities such as blogs, podcasts, group and instructional class work.  It links to blackboard but can be used in standalone configuration.  It is available through blackboard and at unmc.campuspack.net and requires use of a UNMC campus id and password to access and use.

The campuspack software company updated Campuspack on Jan. 1, 2012.   Using with classes and individual students has been improved.  It is now easier to setup assignments and work areas for the whole class, groups or individuals, see below.  The following features were enhanced or added:

Campuspack User Interface Changes
Most of the changes are minor and will not interfere with the user experience. However, in some cases if users are to take advantage of the new features they will be exposed to new screens. Users will notice the following changes in the user interface after the Campus Pack 4.4 upgrade.

Updated Icons: The Campus Pack content icons have been updated. These changes should not interfere with the usage of Campus Pack and are similar to previous icons.

Authenticated RSS: Users will see a grayed out RSS icon  on the header of all content that is not shared with everyone in the world (public content). Users are not required to subscribe to authenticated RSS feeds.

Batch Creation of Content: When a user adds new content to a course they will see a new Assignment Type option that enables them to create content either for the entire class or separate content items for individuals or course teams. Note that a user will be exposed to other new screens only if they choose the Group or Individual option. If the Class option is chosen then the user experience is same as before.

Note: The new screens related to the Batch Creation of Content feature are off by default. If you would like to use the Batch Creation of Content feature please email support@learningobjects.com.  This feature will be turned off by default only until the next upgrade which will be available in Summer 2011.

New Features and Enhancements

Campus Classroom and Cluster Computers

The workstations in campus classrooms and student computer clusters are administered centrally using Citrix software and servers.  When a computer is rebooted, the operating system and software applications are reloaded onto the computer.  This allows for consistent computer setup and easy updating of the computers with new software.

Recent Updates
The most recent changes and additions that have been deployed to classroom and cluster computers include:

• A McKesson Update to selected rooms in the vicinity of clinical areas or known to be used by clinical physicians.
• Epic OneChart access has been added to Sorrell 1010 and 1012 computers and will be added to other classrooms and clusters as it becomes generally available.
• Outlook Email – Icons for access to Outlook email have been added to the cluster workstations and will be added to classrooms in the next few weeks.

Planned summer 2012 updates
The planned updates and upgrades for Classrooms and Educational Technology include the standard software updates and refurbishment of equipment in educational technology enhanced classrooms throughout campus.  Of particular note are the following:

• Computers are being upgraded in the Sorrell 1010 lab, the Sorrell clinical skills center, the Sorrell and student center computer clusters, and the instructor workstations in Sorrell 1010, 1012, 4053 and 22 Sorrell small conference rooms.
• Upgrading video in Sorrell 3002 to HD quality
• Adding additional echo rooms, locations to be identified.
• Upgrading of existing echo units to hd echo units.
• Testing a campus collaboration server.

For more detail, visit http://blog.unmc.edu/edtech/educational-technology-updates-and-upgrades-spring-and-summer-2012/

Echo360 – classroom recording system

The Echo360 classroom recording system is now installed in over 25 classrooms and conference rooms across campus.  Over the past few months the server was upgraded to a new enhanced server using 64bit architecture to provide increased speed in the adding of and playing back of lectures and other video recordings.  The ability to provide a podcast and vodcast format on requested recordings has also been added.

A new feature is now available that allows viewers to collaborate, comment and bookmark recordings. Collaboration between viewers of videos, allows the addition of personal notes and responses that can be added by students and faculty in a shared environment or only used for private notes and bookmarks. This feature can be individually controlled by course or event.  Faculty who would like to test this with their students can request this option when requesting the scheduling of Echo for course lectures or events.

A new version of the Echo360 software has been announced that will include live streaming as well as the current recording method and reviewing of material.  It also will allow more ways to record session without requiring the use of Echo360 appliances to record basic video in the room being recorded.  The ability to live stream from a class or event is expected to be available sometime this summer.

Upcoming 2012 Educational Technology Presentations, Training and Seminars

• April 12, 2012 − 11am to 1pm, SOCIAL MEDIA IN HEALTH SCIENCE EDUCATION
• Summer session (Date TBD) – Proposed Presentation on Educational Simulation
• For other IT training sessions please visit – http://www.unmc.edu/its/training.htm

Classroom Educational Technology

During the past year, UNMC has seen a significant expansion of technology enhanced classrooms with the addition of the Center for Nursing Sciences (10 new classrooms/conference rooms) and the Maurer Center for Public Health (12 new classrooms/conference rooms) buildings.  Additional areas across the multiple campus sites in Nebraska have seen technology upgrades and enhancements, as well.  The two new buildings located on the Omaha campus have added innovative technology enhanced classroom spaces that include Video (IP) conferencing, web conferencing, and a classroom allowing simultaneous multiple group work spaces as well as instructor presentations.  The technology enhanced classrooms range from basic presentation capabilities, large venue presentations and video presentation, to web conferencing and advanced distance education systems with full 2 way video and audio capabilities.

• Microsoft Windows 7 was installed on classroom and cluster computers during the 2011 summer.
  • As noted in previous updates, Microsoft Windows 7 has been installed except in selected in locations that need to use McKesson software, in those locations the computers are still running Windows XP.  Windows 7 has primarily improved computer performance and changed the look and feel of the computer desktop.
  • Note: One difference that will be noticeable is that the systems will default at the login screen to login into the UNMC campus domain, individuals with a TNMC ID and password will need to change the domain to the Nebraska Medical Center domain.  This is a change in Windows 7 that requires a different way to switch between login networks.
• CPS – Audience Response System
  • The software to run the CPS audience response system has been installed in requested rooms (MSC1005, MSC 3001, MSC3002, CNS3030 & MCPH2001). Contact classroom support at 402-559-7665 to request the software installation in another location.
• Classroom computer requests for updates and software installs
  • In general if a computer provides a notification that an update is available, it is recommended to indicate ‘no’ or cancel the request.  If that does not work, one can allow the update to occur and let the classroom technicians know what was requested.
• The Citrix computer image and streaming system upgrade to the current Citrix supported system from the previous version UNMC was running has continued with the addition of the third computer image server, now giving us a three server system with redundancy to minimize system down time.

Educational Online Systems

UNMC and the other UN campuses utilize Blackboard Learn as course information system.  Each campus maintains individual servers for campus courses and organizations.  At UNMC there are currently 968 courses and 84 organizations or groups on the UNMC Blackboard system.  Currently, two colleges (College of Nursing and College of Public Health) have developed unique college pages that are used for access to courses, as well as College and Departmental information.

Several components and applications are linked together to with Blackboard to create the online learning system at UNMC.  The core system is Blackboard (my8.unmc.edu), UNMC is running version 9.1.6.  The major components of this course information system include:

• Blackboard Individual course sites for each UNMC class, these sites include areas for
  • Files – embedded in course content and a file repository for easier management and sharing of course files
  • Announcements
  • Assignment creation, posting and submittal
  • Online Testing with over 15 question types, ability to import and export tests, timed and non-timed test taking
  • Course grade book allowing grade calculation and student viewing of their individual course grades
  • Email and notification capabilities
  • Online chat and meeting capabilities
  • Integrated blog and wiki
• Echo360 is the campus classroom and individual faculty presentation recording system.
  • Over 30 classrooms on the UNMC campuses contain the Echo360 recording device.
  • The system provides scheduled, automatic recording of classes including computer images and video camera input where available.
  • After the session is recorded, individuals can view and listen to the lecture using web enabled viewer that allows one to watch a complete session or jump to particular points in the lecture via a visual or timeline component.
  • Echo360 sessions can be automatically integrated into Blackboard classes.
  • Echo360 Version 4 Software: The most current version has added enhanced support for notebook devices including the IPad system.
    • Mobile use – Echo360 has added additional capabilities to allow viewing of lectures and podcasts while using mobile technology.  This is being explored and tested this fall; if you would like to participate in this review please contact Matt Rutledge at 9-4048 or mjrutledge@unmc.edu.
    • Media Ingest – The new version of Echo360 also includes the capability to ingest multiple video file types and formats and then present them similar to the way that class recordings are being delivered.  Initial testing of this provides excellent video quality and provides a way to easily incorporate video into classes for student review.
    • You can get more information on the Echo360 Version 4.0 software at http://www.unmc.edu/its/235.htm and http://echo360.com/echosystem/4_0/.  For access to a manual go to http://confluence.echo360.com/display/40/4.0+Documentation+Home
• Campuspack is a system linked directly to UNMC Blackboard.  This is an external to UNMC hosted system, which provides the capability for private blogs, wiki, discussion groups and portfolios to faculty and students and can be used in any course hosted on the Blackboard system.  An individual can access this system via Blackboard or directly log into the system via unmc.campuspack.org.
  • Provides password protected individual and group social media space for UNMC faculty, staff, students and courses.
  • Shares functionality with services such as Facebook but provides controlled, private service.
  • The most recent update has provided additional features and opened up the system to allow easier creation of additional functionality.
  • Individuals have unique home page that shows what groups, blogs, wikis, and portfolios that one has access to.
  • This service can be linked to directly from UNMC Blackboard inside of a class or organization.
• Respondus is a test creation software, UNMC has a campus license until July 2012 for this software that allows the creation of tests, test question libraries and local editing and updating of test questions.  Once a test is created it can be uploaded to Blackboard and then deployed for student to take. This software is available for download via http://ess.unmc.edu
  • Respondus includes a rudimentary test bank capability and test question editor.
  • Provides similar question types as Blackboard.
  • Tests created in Respondus can be used with most major course information systems if faculties are working with other institutions that do not have Blackboard as their course information system.
• Virtual Microscopy – UNMC has installed the Aurora virtual microscopy system that allows viewing and zoom functions for most image files. This system is available at mscope.unmc.edu.
  • A new advanced server running the Aurora software has been installed this year providing greatly enhanced performance for handing the increasingly larger clinical and educational images used in teaching at UNMC.
  • The Aurora system provides both generally viewing, annotations and quiz capabilities for high definition images.
  • This server provides on- and off-campus access for students to course microscopic and other high definition images.

Educational Technology Current Problems and Fixes

• Blackboard
  • Test Item creation – A test question creation error had been detected and reported to Blackboard for a fix. When one create questions for a test, the first question was added to the test and was visible once submitted. When a second or further questions were added, some individuals were seeing that the question had been added but it was not visible for a short time or not visible until the next day before it can be seen in the test. This was escalated to Blackboard Level 3 support, but no patch has been received yet.  This appears to be corrected as of September 21, 2011.
  • Timed exams – A bug has been reported in using timed exams where students are residing in multiple time zones; the system does not function correctly, and students may be kicked out of exams early or given more than the allotted time if they are in a different time zone than the Blackboard server.  We are awaiting a fix for this problem.
  • Personalization – At the present time, Blackboard personalization has been disabled because it is possible, when personalizing Blackboard for the main Blackboard sections to not display when changes are saved.  Once a fix is released the personalization will be turned back on.

• Classroom Educational Technology
  • Sorrell 2007 and 4058 projectors have been replaced with new projectors.

Operating System and Software Updates

• Windows 7 – Most classrooms are now running Windows 7 operating system.  The desktop screen should look as similar as we were able to make to the previous version from last year.  One difference that will be noticeable is that the systems will default at the login screen to login into the UNMC campus domain, individuals with a TNMC id and password will need to follow the instructions below the login area for logging into the TNMC network to use these computers.  This is a change in Windows 7 that requires a different way to switch between login networks.
• Office 2010 – Starting last year, we are now using Office 2010 in all classrooms throughout campus.
• Smartboard Update – A new update for Smartboard has been installed.  We are continuing to work with Smart Technologies to remove the various pop-ups that appear asking for updates and other software installs.  For the time being, if the software asks to install an update or other package, we are recommending to accept the changes and then proceed to use the computer and smart board.
• Drivers and plugins – We have updated all drivers and plugins on classroom computers.
• Deployment and security software
  • The workstations are now using Symantec antivirus and malware software with the campus conversion to this software this summer.  We are seeing little difference in the operation of the computers with this software, one may still experience some nag notices but they have been kept to a minimum on most computers.
  • Citrix software distribution has been upgraded to the latest edition along with an upgrade of the servers that deploy the software to the desktops in the classrooms and clusters.  We have seen a significant improvement in startup with the new system versus the previous version.  Bootup and login still take a minute or so as the Windows 7 operating system takes longer to boot than previous Windows operating systems.
  • A select number of high use classrooms have been converted to a totally local managed system to improve performance.  Sorrell 3001, 3002, 1005, 2010,2014 and 2018 have been converted to locally managed systems with Deep Freeze lock down software.

Classroom hardware and av equipment updates

• Sorrell 1012 new computers installed and operational, the computers now are setup the same way as Sorrell 1010 and include a flat screen monitor.
• New computers have been installed in Sorrell 3001, 3002, 1015, 2010, 2014 and 2018
• New projectors have been installed in selected Sorrell small group rooms where the projector image was degraded by overheating of the projectors.

Respondus Update - Respondus 4.0.4 – Details on Available Update

Respondus, a software for creating and managing exams which can be printed to paper or published directly to Blackboard for computer based administration. Respondus is available to the UNMC campus through June 30, 2012 thanks to a University of Nebraska Kelly Grant. Using Respondus, Blackboard exams can be created off-line using a familiar Windows environment, such as MS Word, and then copied to Blackboard. Learn more about Respondus software at:http://respondus.com/products/respondus.shtml

The Respondus 4.0.4 update includes several small enhancements and bug fixes, as well as support for the latest Blackboard.  To view the complete list of enhancements, visithttp://www.respondus.com/download/respondus40patch.shtml.

Install the Respondus 4.0.4 update by following these steps:
* Start Respondus 4.0
* Select “Help” from the menu bar
* Click “Check for Update”
* Click “Get Update”
* Upon exiting the Respondus software, the update will automatically be applied

The Respondus software can be downloaded for installation:
The campus license and installation instructions for Respondus can be found at: http://ess.unmc.edu
Please print off the Install Instructions to guide you through the software installation process. Once you log into ESS click on Information Technology > Software > Respondus

Respondus LockDown Browser

Respondus LockDown Browser” is a custom browser that locks down the testing environment within Blackboard. When students use Respondus LockDown Browser they are unable to print, copy, go to another URL, or access other applications. When an assessment is started, students are locked into it until they submit it for grading. Learn more about Respondus LockDown Browser at: http://www.respondus.com/products/lockdown.shtml

The installation of Respondus LockDown Browser is strictly limited to computers which are permanently located on the University of Nebraska Medical Center campus AND managed/controlled by UNMC. The installation of Respondus LockDown browser on home, student or any other computers which leave the UNMC campus is not permitted.

Current installation locations:
Michael Sorrell Building rooms 1010 and 1012
College of Nursing at Kearney Learning Resource Center
A campus license and installation instructions for Respondus LockDown browser can be obtained by contacting Melissa Diers at mdiers@unmc.edu

Echo360

The Echo360 classroom and workstation recording system has been upgraded to the latest release.  The latest release added many administrative enhancements but the most significant enhancement for users is an enhanced player that is now available for portable technology such as iPad and iPod as well as other mobile devices.  You can get more information on the changes in Echo360 Version 4.0 at http://www.unmc.edu/its/235.htm and http://echo360.com/echosystem/4_0/.  For access to a manual goto http://confluence.echo360.com/display/40/4.0+Documentation+Home

Blackboard Upgrade

We have completed the upgrade of the campus blackboard system to the latest version and to new servers.  We are continuing to migrate courses from the previous server to the new server as requested.  The transfers have been mostly completed successfully with a only a handful of courses that required special processing.

This version of Blackboard has mostly problem fixes.  The most significant changes in Blackboard in the recent updates have been the testing area including test question numbering and testing updates.  It is now possible to set a time limit on tests that is automatically triggered when the time is up and then the test is closed.  Students can monitor the time left with the addition of time left in the test progress bar at the top of the test screen.

The new version is available at the original web address my8.unmc.edu and the previous version of blackboard is at oldbb.unmc.edu.

This is an update on UNMC classroom educational technology activities currently underway, completed or planned for the next few months.

Classroom Technology Updates and Changes

As in past summers, UNMC ITS is updating classroom, labs and cluster computers and technology.  Most of the updates this summer are related to server replacement, software updates and upgrades to more current editions, and adjustments to enhance performance of computers and av technology.  The major updates and upgrades include the conversion of Blackboard to new servers that will allow us to run the 64bit edition of Blackboard, Campuspack blogs and wikis are being updated by Learning Objects on July 17, 2011; and upgrading the Citrix system to the latest version and installing new servers for desktop streaming and the deployment of Xen Apps for virtualizing computer applications.  The following provides detail on the changes and updates currently being undertaken in campus classrooms, clusters and campus learning resources.

2011 Education Technology Updates and Changes (recent or completed in bold)

Major Hardware Changes

• Sorrell 4009 and 4024 – Conversion to local boot instead of Citrix for College of Medicine conference rooms – TBD
• Sorrell 3001 and 3002 – Redundant Echo recording capability – January 2011
• Bennett Hall – Information panels in Hallways – installed and operational June 13, 2011
• Pharmacy College – Replaced computers in cluster with new computers – February 2011
• Nursing Cluster, 4th floor CON – removing cluster, space being reused by CON – tbd June/July 2011
• College of Nursing – Omaha, 4th floor – removing cluster, space being reused by CON – tbd
• BMC 2086 and 2087 – New projector and computer installations, mounting projectors in conference rooms – July 2011

Major Hardware Fixes

• Sorrell events center – replacement of microphones to resolve interference issue. – completed June 20,2011

Echo360

• Upgraded to current release June 2, 2011
• Upgrading to Release 3 version released in July 2011, July 8, 2008
• Enhancements to reliability and management console primarily.
• Next release due July, will provide enhanced mobile viewer and additional recording capabilities with new recorder that provides HD capability.
• Upgrade to be scheduled based on stability of release and added features.

Blackboard

• Servers being upgraded (current servers are over 3 years old and cannot run in 64bit mode which should provide more 2 times processing improvement and enhanced reliability). – installed and in testing June 27, 2011
• Proposed availability week of July 18, 2011.  We are waiting on update to Learning Objects new version release the weekend of July 16 which will provide full compatibility with the latest version of Blackboard. – Week of July 16 full availability.
• Software will be the same as currently being run with the addition of patches to latest version.
• Current system my8.unmc.edu will be maintained for a couple of months until all courses have been moved and courses have been started for fall semester.
• New server will be called the generic name of my.unmc.edu.
• Upgrade tentatively planned for week of July 16, 2011.
• No major interface or feature changes for faculty and students using the system.
• New mobile Blackboard due sometime summer 2011, to include classroom mobile apps.

Campuspack Blog and Wikis – these are now hosted by the software company and are being updated to a new version – July 14, 2011

Respondus Lockdown Browser – continued contract for the coming year with COM grant – contract renewed June 2011

Computer Upgrades/Refreshes

• Sorrell 1012 – Replacing laptop computers with Dell 790 Ultra-Small form factor desktops with integrated stand and monitor.  Computers ordered, arrival 6/21/2011, installation in July 2011.
• Library 8th floor computer training room – Replacing 6 year old Dell computers with Dell 790 desktop computers, installation July 2011
• Library 8th floor computer updates – Replaced 4 year old computers with new Dell 980 desktops – June 6, 2011
• Reviewing possible replacement of Sorrell 1005, 2010, 2014, 2018, 3001, 3002 computer to latest dell models – Dell 790 desktop computers. – Waiting to determine that units provide significant improvement before scheduling install.

Computer Software

• Citrix Servers being upgraded to faster and larger servers, partially completed with first server in place, others to be added as conversion to latest edition of citrix streaming servers occur.
• Citrix Software Upgrade – Upgrading from current version 5 to latest Citrix release 6 which provides additional performance improvements, enhanced speed of transfer to workstations and complete support for Windows 7.

Classroom and cluster computers – Converting campus classroom computers to Windows 7.  The basic image has been as close as possible to the current computer image that uses Windows XP.  Windows XP support is being phased out by Microsoft and it is increasingly having problems running educational apps as well as the latest Microsoft Office software.  The conversion has begun in selected locations as we test the software and Citrix delivery system.  The following are the rough timelines for these conversions:

• Cluster and Lab Updates and Upgrades – Convert to new Citrix server and windows 7, update all application software and drivers, no new applications to be added.

• Classroom Updates and Upgrades - Convert to new Citrix server or switch to local computer control software Deep Freeze (provide faster boot and performance) and windows 7, update all application software and drivers, no new applications to be added.